Catarina Novo studied Chemical Engineering at University of Aveiro. After her graduation, Catarina worked as a researcher at University of Porto on a Chemical Engineering Project related to the pulp and paper industry and later on at University of Aveiro and Instituto de Telecomunicações (Aveiro), widening the scope of the research embracing optical fibre sensors projects. In 2014, Catarina moved to Edinburgh to do her PhD at Heriot-Watt University. The scope of the research was based on microstructured optical fibres and ways to functionalize the fibres to use as optical fibre sensors. In October 2018, Catarina initiated a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Precision Laser Machining at Heriot-Watt University and in May 2019 in Quantum Communications, within the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences. Catarina returned to Portugal in 2021 to join a Postdoctoral Research position at Universidade de Aveiro in the Ceramic and Materials Engineering Department, to work on the formulation and characterization of geopolymers. Later, Catarina joined Instituto de Telecomunicações, Aveiro to work on Photonic Integrated Circuits for Optical Communications. Catarina is now a Researcher within the Optical Devices and Sensors group working on chemical optical fibre sensors. Catarina has been involved in science outreach activities since 2015. From June 2015 until 2019 she was a volunteer with Native Scientist by organising and/or participating in workshops to promote science and language literacy among pupils. In February 2018, she wrote a blog post for Native Scientist blog, sharing her experience of moving from Chemical Engineering to Physics and presenting concepts such as lasers, light and applications. In June 2020 she created her science outreach blog Words About Science.